TAUNTON - Anthony “Tony” Medeiros, 59, entered into eternal rest on July 12, 2011.
Born in Taunton, he was the son of the late Antone E. and Maria F. (Leite) Medeiros.
Tony was a life long resident of Taunton and a 1969 graduate of Taunton High School.
He received a degree in Textile Engineering from SMU and a Master’s Degree in Religious Education from Providence College.
Tony worked as a teacher for many years in the DECA program at Taunton High School. He was to retire, due to illness, in November of 2011.
For those who knew Tony, they would know that he dedicated much of his time, talents and finances to helping young people.
If he wasn’t helping his students in state and national competitions for DECA, he would be running dances for teens at the old St. Anthony’s Church, or youth and adult prayer groups and bible studies.
For many years, he took young people to conferences at the University of Steubenville in Ohio.
Tony was known as “Traveling Tony” the DJ. Many times, he donated his services to help raise money for various groups.
He was a past member of the Taunton School Committee and a member for many years of the Taunton Jaycee’s.
He belonged to People for the Arts, and founded the Building Block Youth Ministry.
He founded and directed a Catholic cable television program entitled “The Beat” which featured Christian music videos and discussions with young people about this music and their faith.
Tony was also a Eucharistic Minister at Morton Hospital for several years and a past member of the Diocesan Service Committee for the Charismatic Renewal in the Fall River Diocese.
For several years, Tony would dress as Santa Claus and visit patients at Morton Hospital and Mass General Hospital in Boston. Tony knew well what it was like to be a patient in a hospital.
Our city parades will no longer be graced by Tony’s presence in various costumes. He loved the Taunton High School Bands over the course of the years, having been a drummer himself.
Tony will be remembered by many for his works of kindness and charity.
He is survived by his sister, Mary Leite and her husband Antonio; his brother, Francis Medeiros and his wife Carol; his nieces, Ann Marie Leal and Christine Kelley; nephews, Michael and Paul Leite; great-nephews Noah and Jacob Leite; and great-nieces Willow and River Kelley.
His funeral will be held from the Silva Funeral Home, 80 Broadway, on Saturday, July 16th at 9 a.m. followed by a funeral mass at St. Anthony Church at 10 a.m.
Burial will be at St. Joseph Cemetery.
Relatives and friends are invited to attend.
Calling Hours will be held at the funeral home on Friday, July 15th from 5 to 8 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or to EWTN Catholic Television, 5817 Old Leeds Road, Irondale, AL 35201 or to St. Anthony Church, 126 School St. Taunton, MA 02780. www.silvafuneralhome.com.